Rants and Reviews on Romantic Fiction

I spent the week wading through Wuthering Heights.
When I was a lot younger I plucked it off the bookshelf downstairs, (the same bookshelf that supplied material for my insatiable appetite for reading most of my childhood), read maybe the first chapter, and then tossed it aside, thoroughly and utterly confused. The old English, lengthy descriptive paragraphs, and odd colloquial accents, threw me off I guess.
However, being a "classic", its always been on my To Read list. I figured I would read it when I was older and could understand the big words. Well, I read it, but I'm not going to say I understood it all!
To be honest I was disappointed, because I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. I thought it was going to be a Pride & Prejudice-esque read, maybe requiring a little more concentration than your average story, but worth the time.
Instead there seemed to be little reason to like or sympathize with any of the characters, or become emotionally attached, since someone would drop dead every few chapters. They were all bad-tempered, spiteful, cruel, and prone to fits and rages. If they were pale, blond, and blue-eyed, they inevitably fell dangerously ill and cried all the time, and if they had dark hair, they were surly, strong, and silent. It was apparently a love story, but there was plenty more hating than loving in that book, let me tell you.
When it comes down to it, I plodded through the story just to say I had finished it. And I really don't understand what makes it so great.

Well, that is a work of dark Romantic Fiction from long ago. Fast forward to the present time, and you have the wildly popular "Twilight" series.

The first I heard of these was in Ireland...one of the girls in the church was reading them, and left them at my house one time. I didn't really know anything about them, and didn't even bother to take a peek inside. Then last summer the movie was announced, and then all of sudden "I Heart Edward Cullen" groups were popping up on Facebook like a bad case of acne. When the movie was released it was all the girls at school were talking about, and I still had no clue what the book was even about, beyond that the guy was apparently like, really hot, and the girl was like, really pretty, and they were like, really in love.
Ick.
But everyone assured me the book was really good, and everyone was comparing it to Harry Potter, which -not gonna lie here- I truly enjoy, and may have even obsessed over...in the past... ;)

For that reason alone, I didn't reject the book entirely, but merely relegated it to the "I'll probably read it someday" spot. I had no overwhelming urge to subject myself to a cheesy teenage romance; the movie trailer certainly did nothing to entice me.

The other day however, my mom of all people, brought it home from the library. "To see what all the fuss is about".
Having just put myself through the painful ordeal of Wuthering Heights, and having made no plans for the day, I decided a bit of fictional fluff might be in order.
An hour or two (!) later I was halfway through, and the pages were still turning.
Was I desperately bored, or hopelessly addicted?
I stayed up late to read, and made it to the brink of the climax before my aching eyes forced me to go to sleep. When I woke up, I had to find out what happened, and I finished it before 10 AM, ending on a cliffhanger of the sample first chapter from the sequel.
Now that it is done, I'm reflecting on whether or not I actually liked it, and what the allure is.

I'm a little perplexed. On one hand it was very addictive and exciting, but I'm left wondering exaclty why, since its also fairly predictable. As it is a series of 4, I think its pretty safe to assume that the main characters don't die in the first book. Having established character immunity early on takes a lot of suspense out of the plot.
The main character, Bella, I liked. The story is told in her first-person perspective, and her "voice" is entertaining and well-written. A real-ish heroine, she has plenty of faults, flaws, and feelings that the reader can (probably) relate to. Of course, there are always elements of the character that drive me insane, but I'm getting to that...
Its the romance...well, I can see how it appeals, but it is still painfully fictional. What I mean by that is, its a classic case of truly-unexplainable-love-at-first-sight. Why exactly do they love each other? Apparently she is like, so pretty, and smells soooooo good, and he is like, so beautiful, and mysterious, and did I mention beautiful???
Its so typically shallow. They are "deeply and irrevocably in love" a week into their acquaintance, and there's really no reason for it. Normally I could overlook that, except in this case its the basis of the entire story.
It makes no sense. I'm reading their declarations of passion, and I'm thinking, "What the heck? Didn't you just meet?"
Maybe I'm just a cynical old fogey, and you just want me to shut up, and enjoy a girly romance. After, all these are precisely the reasons why its a best-seller, right? The target audience wants to be that shy, new girl that attracts the most handsome, unattainable, boy in school, and is immediately in a dangerous, exciting relationship. It doesn't happen in real life, so we read the book. Ok, cool. I get it. Its an escape, a fantasy, a fairytale. Its not supposed to be "realistic". But I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't truly enjoy a story of romance for the sake of romance. There's just not enough substance there. I'm left rolling my eyes, and groaning, "Whatever."
So, summing up: well written, sexy, and shallow...in all honesty, my opinion on the series hasn't changed all that much from what is was before I started. I would read the sequels for entertainment, but I don't really care enough about it to seek them out.

Unfortunate

I think my alarm clock died.
I didn't hear it go off today.
In fact, I had exactly 30.0 minutes from the second I woke up, until the time I had to be in class.
I arrived with exactly 2.28 minutes before I would be labelled "Late".
Don't ask me to do the math. All I know is that breakfast was forfeit, as was personal grooming, and I basically flew from my warm snuggly blankets to my cold hard car in less than 3 minutes.
I wasn't even entirely sure that I wasn't still in my pajamas when I got to school.
Which was a little unsettling.

EDIT: the alarm clock wasn't dead. Maybe I was?

Gingersnaps

After a very long week(end) of being very sick, laying in bed, hacking up both lungs, and trying to get them back in, I think its time for something nice and comforting.

Gingersnaps.

This is where it all began for me.
When I was helping in the Homewood kitchen in '07 (that long ago??), I got tired of making the same old, same old...Dad's Cookies, Chocolate Chip, Haystacks, etc, etc. I mean, chocolate is great. But sometimes....sometimes....you need a little variety.
So I called up the mother, and asked for "that gingersnap recipe". She used to make these for us when we would go camping. Huge batches of them. And my brothers and I would live entire camping trips on these cookies.
To me, these are THE camping cookies. The sustenance of camping life. The nectar of the outdoors.
So when I got my greedy little hands on the recipe, I promptly quadrupled the amounts and baked the most enormous batch of gingersnaps known to man. Or something. I did have a huge Hobart mixer at my disposal, after all.
And here is the important part of the story: these cookies made me famous. Everyone adored the new mug-up snack, and kept asking for more, and more, and more!
I tweaked the recipe, making it spicier and more luscious than ever before; made it my own. Gingersnaps became the new favorite, and it was fun making food that made people so happy! I was hooked. There's nothing so satisfying as making yummy things for people I like! But since I'm at home, nursing a sickly body and you don't want my to get my germy hands on your food, I'm going to share the recipe with you!

Gingersnaps

3/4 Cup Butter or Margarine, softened (We both know in our hearts which is right. And I don't mean for our arteries)
1 Cup Granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 Cup Molasses

2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Cloves
1 tsp Nutmeg

Cream the margarine butter and sugar well. Beat in egg. Drizzle in molasses, and mix well.
In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, and spices. You can also throw in 1/2 tsp of salt if you like, but I never usually put salt in my cookies. Mix it all up real good, and then start adding it in portions to the batter, and blend.

Once its all mixed, roll it in little balls, and then dip one half of each ball in a little bowl of granulated sugar. Then put it on the baking sheet. Grease the sheet unless you have nifty Pampered Chef stoneware, like my mom does!

Bake the cookies at 350F, for 10-12 minutes, but no longer! Usually 10 is long enough, because you don't want them to get dark around the edges. You want them to get all crinkly and split, so you can see the oozy goodness inside. Then pull them out, give the sheet a little tap on the stovetop and they will fall and get really chewy and good! There's nothing worse than gingersnaps that are dry and crumbly. Ick.

This recipe makes...I dunno...somewhere between 2-3 dozen. I think. They just seem to disappear so fast, I can't count em. They go down really nice with a big glass of cold milk, too. Mmmmm!
Enjoy!

Out of Commission

My cold has gotten worse.
Much, much, worse.
I thought I was going to perish this morning. I almost slept through my alarm. Made it to school just on time, and managed to function for part of the morning with a headache, terribly sensitive eyes, and a hacking cough. My teacher finally told me it would probably be best for me to go home.
I have not missed a single day at school yet this year...I have a thing about taking sick days.
But today I finally gave in, and went home just before 10.
I've spent the remainder of the day laying in bed, sipping neo citron, and watching planet earth.
My nose is red and raw, I have no voice, and weirdly my skin is super sensitive. Not a whole lot of fun.
I hope this goes away before the weekend!

Its Green Day!

Happy St Patricks to all!

Its that special Irish holiday again, and I can hardly believe how time has flown by! It doesn't seem like a year since I celebrated the most authentic St Patty's of my life. Yet, I was thinking the other day, and I have now been home again for about as long as I was gone to Ireland. Approximately. Weird eh?
These past months have just gone soooo fast.
This year, the celebrations were a little more "low-key" to say the least. I didn't watch any parades, or drink any tall, dark, handsome beverages. In fact, the most Irish thing I did today was bake some soda bread at school, and decorate a cake with green marzipan shamrocks.
But I would like to point out something. I can hardly escape wearing green. Half my wardrobe is green. I noticed this the other day. Check it out.
On my bed covered in green sheets, I have a green t-shirts, and a green bag. And that's only the beginning. Funny thing is they are all very similar shades. I guess its my comfort color.

Did you do anything special for St Pattys?

I Lost the Cold War

For some reason I thought I was better than the stinking sicknesses that have been striking down the innocent citizens of Kamloops. My two older brothers have both been quite sick over the past week, and my mom thought she was coming down with something the other day.
I have been reasonably healthy this fall and winter, and though I was battling the sniffles last week, I thought I had won.
Apparently not.
Yesterday I woke up with a slight scratch at the back of my throat, and felt a little achy, but nothing serious. Last night I hardly slept at all because I was so uncomfortable, and the throat got worse, and the annoying little dry "cough, cough." began. It hasn't stopped yet.
I really can't complain too much because my symptoms aren't really terrible. Just this dry, sandpaper throat, the odd "cough. cough", and slight sniffles. The worst part is the Zero Energy, and achy back. Its going to make school tomorrow a little bit of a nightmare. Siiiigh. "cough, cough."

ps. also....what happened to Spring?

Question of the Day!

Ok, this is a simple question, requiring only a simple action on your part.

I want you to get yourself a glass.
Or you can get a plastic cup. I won't discriminate.
Fill it with a thirst-quenching liquid of your choice.
(I chose water because I'm soooooo healthy like that.)

And as you drink your refreshing beverage, I want you to concentrate on one thing. This is the question: Where do you look when you are sipping? Or guzzling? Or whatever?

Now go and do it before reading on! I don't want you to be influenced!

Here's the thing: I look outside my glass. Anywhere but right in front of me. I am the Alert One, keeping an eye out for would-be attackers. I did grow up with 3 brothers you know. I also just like to keep tabs on what's going down around me.

My Little Brother, Tim, however, is Intent Upon the Beverage. Meaning, he stares straight into the cup, enjoying the pretty colors (he never drinks water) that are slipping and sliding down into his esophagus.

So which category do you fall into? Alert? Intent? Or perhaps a third, known as the Blissful One, which closes their eyes to fully enjoy each delightful molecule of flavor as it passes over their tastebuds? I want to know!

Hurrah! Its the Weekend!

I can put my feet up...

see some friends....
do some homework...
make some bread if I want to...
play some badminton...

sleep in...
read a book...
And the best part is...
I won't have to see my teacher or classmates for 2 1/2 days :D



ps. I love leaves.

Warning: Emotions Ahead

I don't want to go back to school tomorrow. Or Monday. Or all of next week.

Today started out bad enough.
I overslept...not by much, but enough to cause a little urgency in my morning routine. And I was feeling sick to my stomach.
Then my car wouldn't start. No lights, no beeps, no coughing. Nada. Peppy was basically DEAD.
So then I ran into the house to ask my mom if I could use her car. Got permission.
Realized I needed my N. But my N is taped down the middle (it froze and broke in half a while ago) so it wouldn't stick to the back of the Rav. So I looked for Tim's N, but it was gone. Nowhere to be found. So I ran back into the house and found some tape so I could tape my N onto my mom's car.
Then I called my teacher to tell him I would be a few minutes late.
Got to school, and then realized my locker key is on the same chain as my car keys, which I left with my dad, when I took my mom's keys.
So I had to go into the school at 7:30 (The time I'm supposed to be changed, ready, and IN CLASS...they're very strict about that) to get my backup key.
I got changed super fast, zipped downstairs, zipped back upstairs to get an apron, zipped back downstairs.

So that is how my day started. I was stressed out, and pretty frazzled. But I didn't want the bad beginning to ruin the rest of the day, so I tried to be positive. And for the most part the rest of the morning was pretty good. Better than yesterday, anyway.

Then just before lunch, our teacher discovered some poorly cut Nanaimo bars, and tossed 'em. And he was MAD. It wasn't even our group that did it, it was from the group before. Apparently that doesn't matter. We all bore his wrath the rest of the day.

My mom has been telling me ever since I was a little kid (crying because Paul and Mike called me names) that I am too sensitive and I take things too personally. And when my teacher said something undeniably rude and hurtful to me about the bread I made today, it was almost game over.

Then when I came home, and my mom told me Peppy's battery might be shot for good, I went into the bathroom, turned on the fan and cried.

I don't cry very often, but I'm still a girl, ok?!?! The tears have gotta flow sometimes. Apparently its healthy.

After I was done my weeping-session, I repotted my houseplants for an hour. And I feel much better, thank you. Plants are such comforting things.

Maybe I should quit culinary and go into horitculture.

Grumpy Days

I am really grumpy right now. I had a bad day.
Not like...really bad. Just not a good day.
And I want to vent, but I'm not really in the mood to vent. I know, hey?
Mostly I am frustrated with school.
My teacher right now pretty much hates me, and I don't know why. I'm not rude, I hand stuff in on time, I laugh at his jokes, and the only reason he has for this hate is that I make some stupid mistakes sometimes, but honestly...who doesn't? Even the other students are like, "What's going on with you two?"
So my days are long and unpleasant.
Also there is just so much stuff that needs to get done before I leave in May.
What I really want is for all the STUFF that has built up to just go away. Things like homework, and deadlines, and planning, and tests, and errands, and chores, and all that yucky necessary stuff. I want it to LEAVE.
Because I'm a big baby and I don't want to DEAL with it.
I need a personal secretary.
Any takers?


ps. finding that cookie just made my day a LOT better :)

Summer Plans Confirmed!

I got the call from Strathcona Park Lodge yesterday!!!
I will be heading down there early May (after Rishelle & Andrew's wedding) to begin my work Practicum, and stay all summer (until Liz & Tim's wedding)!
Excitement levels are high.
That's one more thing crossed off my Urgent To Do List.
Now I have to go stress about homework and school in general.
Thank You.

The End.

Exciting News...

coming soon to a blog near you!
I'm actually too tired to write about it tonight. Isn't that sad?
Plus tomorrow is going to be a bit hectic, so I need to prepare for that.
But I will try to give you the low down tomorrow.
Just wanted to let you know that I actually have news :D

Growing Up

Last night I got the chance to visit Ange, one of my good out-of-towner friends. As an added bonus I got to spend some time with her 7-month-old daughter, Brooklyn, who is now crawling, and making lots of noise which I'm sure will soon become discernible baby talk!
Since this is only the third time I've seen and held baby B, I really notice how fast she is growing up! And its hard to believe that my friend, only a little older than I, gave birth to this beautiful little girl that is going to be one year old in July! It blows my mind a little!
But it seems like its that stage in life now. Everyone is growing up...
Four of my friends have gotten engaged in as many months. I'm sure there will be more diamond rings making appearances later in the year as well!
Obviously I'm really happy for each and every couple. But inevitably there is a little sadness as well. A sense of change and loss, and maybe a teensy tiny bit of envy :)

Cook Psychology 101

Here is something I have learned.
If you have some extra time on your hands, and notice someone else who could use a hand, you have to approach them a certain way.

If you say:

"Do you need some help?"

They will say:

"No"

You have implied that they are incapable of handling their own duties, and hurt their pride.
Also, you have implied that you are better than them, because you've finished your job before they have, and you think they are too slow, which shows far too much pride in yourself.

So you try again.

You say:

"Do you want some help?"

Again, they will reply,

"No."

This is because if they surrender under this particular wording, it implies that not only do they need help, but they are weak enough to want it.

There are few options left to the wandering helper now.

It is my personal experience that the only way to win your way into a job of the assisting nature, is to offer your services with this simple question...

You say:

"Can I help?"

In this way, you present yourself as the humble servant, who doesn't presume to be necessary, but might possibly prove useful.

So they say,

"No!"


Some cooks are so darn proud they won't accept any help from anyone!

Interview

So I did my phone interview...
one of the first things she said was, "I have about a 1/2 Hour's worth of questions here..." and inside, I freaked.
I don't think I've ever talked so much, or so fast. I just rattled on and on...which is quite something, for someone who is labeled "quiet and shy" at school. My brain went into overdrive, thinking of ways to suck up (big time), grasping at positive-sounding words, and spewing information that would show that I know something about...something!
My gut feeling was that it went well, despite my hysteria. But time will tell.
If I don't hear from the lodge this weekend, then my gut has lied to me.

Summer Plans

Its that time of year...
Time to get a practicum lined up.
When it was first announced that we needed to find a place to apprentice for 3 weeks, my first thoughts were local places...somewhere like Milestones or Earls.
Then I realized I could "expand my horizons" and "spread my wings"....and leave Kamloops.
Not that Kamloops is bad...its just...Kamloops.
So I thought, why not apply to April Point, the resort on Quadra Island, 10 minutes from Homewood? I even made arrangements to stay with the camp director's family.
Then, the more I researched it the less I wanted to go to April Point. It put a big emphasis on seafood, and line cooking, and since I'm not a big fan of either, it didn't seem like a good fit.
So...the hunt was on. I googled "BC Wilderness Lodge Culinary Practicum" blah blah blah....hoping something would come up that jumped out at me. But nothing did.
Finally I just slumped against the computer desk, and asked the expert on camping.
"Mike, do you know of a nice lodge on the island that I could do my practicum with?"
"What about Strathcona Park Lodge?" He said.
So I googled it.
And it jumped out at me.
Its a remote wilderness lodge, in a beautiful setting 45 minutes out of Campbell River. The kitchen looks great, and it focuses a lot on healthy eating, different diets (vegetarian, vegan, celiac, etc), and buying local produce. Which I find interesting, and appealing.
Not to mention the whole place does its best to be ecologically friendly, by producing its own power, composting, and a whole lot of other things. Very cool.
Anyway, I got really excited, and sent off a resume hoping desperately to get a quick reply in the affirmative.
But nothing came...
So last Saturday I called to pester them.
And successfully scored a phone interview, which is scheduled for TOMORROW!!
I am soo excited and nervous! I want this so bad, but I'm scared that I won't measure up to their standards, which seem pretty high.
I'm trying to think positively, and I keep catching myself already making plans about "when" I go down to the island!
I will update you all tomorrow on how it went!!!
ps. check out the site, its beautiful

Wait a second...

I had the weirdest brain fart today. Someone asked me how old I was and I was like,
"20." NO doubt in my mind that I was 20.
My friend Lin was like,
"Um, no you're not. You're 21."
In my head I was thinking, there is NO WAY I am 21. That is too old. I'm definitely 20, I'm sure I just turned 20 in January. Then I started to think very hard, and eventually remembered that I am indeed 21, because I celebrated my 20th in Ireland. It was really strange. I mean, who the heck doesn't even know how old they are???
I was so sure that I wasn't 21. My memory is already failing me....I am soooo old. Ahhh!